World of Amistade

Lapin

Personality: Lapin are slow to laugh or jest, and suspicious of strangers, but thy are generous to those few who earn their trust. They fight with neither recklessly nor timidly, but with careful courage and tenacity. Lapin have a strong love of and protection of nature. This makes them keenly attuned to the cosmic ebb and flow of all living things, their lifecycles and their place in the cosmic order. When pursuing a goal, such as an adventurous mission or learning a new skill, Lapin tend to be focused and relentless. Lapin tend to be slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Physical Description: Lapin stand only 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall, but with their ears extended they give the appearance of being 5 to 5-1/2 feet tall. Lapin weigh between 85-105 pounds. Lapin males and females are the same height and only marginally heavier than Lapin females. Lapin are basically the evolved bipedal humanoid version of a Jack Rabbit. They wear simple, comfortable, practical clothes in earth tones and pastel hues. A Lapin reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of their second century.

Relations: Lapin get along best with dwarves and elves, and passably with halflings and kalish. Lapin mistrust humans and Codeil in general, and the feeling is mutual. Luckily Lapin are fair-minded, and they grant individual humans and Codeil the opportunity to prove themselves.

Alignment: Lapin tend to be neutral. While they are comfortable with change (a chaotic trait), they also tend to rely on intangible constants, such as clan ties and personal honor (a lawful trait).

Lapin Lands: Lapin make their homes in hilly grasslands. They live in multi-chambered underground warrens connected by multiple tunnels. Each warren houses an extended multi-generational family. Lapin warrens are well hidden by both clever construction and natural camouflage. All warrens have a main entrance and at least one or more escape tunnels. Those who come to visit and are welcome are ushered into the bright warm warrens. Those who are not welcome never find the warrens in the first place.

Lapin in foreign lands are almost always scouts and guides. Lapin scouts are renowned and highly sought after for their tracking skills, as well as their courage and loyalty, which they are well compensated for.

Religion: The chief Lapin god is Frith, the Watchful Protector. His clerics and druids teach that Lapin are to defend their clans, cherish their families and support their communities.

Frith is the Lapin sun-god, and creator of the universe. In the Lapin creation story, Frith grants all the animals their distinguishing features. A god-figure who created the world and promised that Lapin would always be allowed to thrive. In Lapine, his name literally means “the sun.

El-ahrairah is a Lapin trickster folk hero, who is the protagonist of nearly all of the Lapin stories. El-ahrairah represents what every Lapin wants to be: smart, devious, tricky, and devoted to the well-being of his warren. In Lapine, his name is a contraction of the phrase Elil-Hrair-Rah, meaning “prince with a thousand enemies”.

The Black Rabbit of Inlé is a sinister phantom servant of the god Frith who appears in Lapin folklore. He is the Lapin equivalent of a grim reaper in human folklore, and similarly ensures all Lapin die at their pre-destined time. Inlé is the Lapine term for the moon or darkness.

Language: Lapin speak their own language called Lapine, which is a combination of verbal sounds and hand signals. They use Common script for business dealings, but they don’t have a large body of written work like other races. The Lapin instead have a rich oral tradition that passes along their history. While the Lapin language isn’t secret, Lapin are loath to share it with others. All Lapin speak Common, since they use it to deal with the people in whose lands they are living or in which they are traveling.

Adventurers: Lapin typically set out on their own to prove their worth in the world. Lapin adventurers are typically looking to use their skills to gain wealth to support their warren and community. As long as a Lapin’s accomplishments bring honor to their clan, Lapin deeds earn them respect and status. For the Lapin, adventuring is less of an opportunity and more about a career and renown.

Lapin Racial Traits:

*+2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma: Lapin are quick, agile and good with ranged weapons, but tend to be gruff and reserved.

Medium: As medium creatures, Lapin have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size

Lapin base land speed is 40 feet (8 squares) due to their powerful legs and physical build.

Low-Light Vision: Lapin can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight and similar conditions of poor illumination. Lapin retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Leap: Lapin are natural jumpers. They have a +10 racial bonus on all Jump checks due to their powerful legs. The Jump check bonus is reduced to +6 if wearing light armor, +2 if wearing medium armor and completely negated in heavy armor.

+2 racial bonus on Hide, Move Silently and Survival checks in grassland and woodland settings. Lapin are keenly attuned to natural settings and camouflaging their movement.

+1 racial bonus on attack rolls with bows, slings and thrown weapons. Hit and run attacks are a universal hunting and survival tactic among the Lapin.